Washing machine



April 7, 1931. E. E. LATTA WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l @H H m w- Ap 1931. E. E. LATTA 1,799,753

WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 7, 1931. E. E. LATTA' WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 7, 1931.

Filed Jan. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 42 57 4/ y? 7/ 7/ 7a 7%, a ,7; ,g 1

.4 7X if L v z I L- H r J7 s I J'fi K Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EUGENE E. LATTA, 0F CLAYTON, MESSOURI WASHING IVIACEINE Application filed January 18, 1929. Serial No. 333,307.

This invention relates to Washing machines and more particularly to machines of this class especially adaptable for use in laundries and the like.

, The main object of the invention is to provide a machine embodying a novel washing method or movement whereby clothes may be Washed very rapidly without danger of injury to the clothes while in the process of being washed.

Another object is to provide a machine of the aforesaid characteristics which will be simple and durable in construction and etficient in operation.

The foregoing and other objects together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect will best be understood from the following description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, shown partially in section, the flexible clothes containers being removed.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 22 in Figure 1, the flexible cloth containers being illustrated. I

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan View, partially broken away.

Figure 5 is a side view, partially in section, of the tub showing the various operating or washing elements at one point of their operation.

Figure 6 is a perspective detail of a portion of one of the clothes receptacles and associated elements.

Figure 7 is a side view, partially broken away of a modified form of washer.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional-ongthe line 8-8 in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section along the line 9-9 in Figure 7. V

Figure 10 is a side view of a further modification of the washer.

Figure 11 is a section along the line 1111 in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a sectional detail of a modified form of end plate.

Figure 13 is a detail view of a modified form of clothes receptacle. 7

Figure 14 is an elongated plan View of one corner of a clothes receptacle of the form illustrated in Figure 13. v

In carrying out the embodiment of the in vention shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, I provide a rectangular tub 1 with a. hinged top 2, the said tub being mounted upon a base 3 which extends-outwardly beyond the tub at either end asshown. Support rods l are longitudially mounted within the tub 1, these rods being spaced horizontally and vertically, to form upper and lower horizontally aligned pairs, the upper and lower rods at each side of the tub being secured at their ends to end pieces 5 which are secured to the ends 6 of the tub 1 in any suitable manner. The clothes receptacles 7 comprise the end plates 8 having laterally extended top and bottom brackets 9 with slots 10 in which are journaled the peripherally grooved rollers 11 which are placed in spaced relationship so that the support rods 4 may pass therebetween and the end plates 8 be thus supported upon these rods. These end plates 8, of which there are four, are substantially fiat sheets of metal having a plurality of spaced perforations 12 for a purpose to be described. The plates 8 are connected by connecting rods 13 in the manner shown, upper and lower lugs 14E being laterally extended from the sides of the said plates 8 adjacent the brackets 9 for this purpose. The rods 13 are secured to the lug 14 upon the alternate plates 8 and are slidably passed through the lugs upon the intervening plates, that 1S, the first and third plates from either end are rigidly connected together with the second plate slidably engaging their connecting rods and the second and fourth plates are rigidly connected together with the aforementioned third plate slidably engaging their connecting rods. Rectangular open ended containers 15 of canvass or any other suitable material are secured between the pairs of adjacent plates 8 along the lower and side margins thereof as shown at 43 in Figure 2 and are provided on their upper margins wlth marginal loops 16 adapted to loosely fit over the attaching rods 17 which are secured to the upper margins of the said plates 8. The containers 16 have their top aortions slit medially to form mouths 18 so that clothes may oe inserted in the containers, one of the m *eting edges of each of these mouths being bifurcated or provided with doubl flaps as at 19 to form w terproof joints. Snaps 2O secure the mouths together. Small rings 21 of conventional form are used to releasaoly are secured to the sides of the containers and are placed upon the connecting rods 13 to serve as support for the said containers. An electric motor 22 is secured to the base 3 adjacent one end thereof and the sprocket 23 thereon is connected to the sprocket 24 on the jack shaft .y a sprocket chain 27, the said shaft being journaled in standards 26. A pinion 28 on the jack shaft meshes with the gear 29 on the crankshaft 30 which is also journaled in standards 31.

A similar crankshaft 32 is journaled in standards 33 the opposite end of the base 3 and each of the crankshafts 30 and 32 have sprockets 3%- over which is trained the sprocket chain Piston rods 36 are secured to the two end plates of the clothing receptacles 7 and are slidably passed out through glands 07 in the ends 6 of the tub 1. Crank rods are pivotally connected at 39 to the outer ends of these piston rods 86 and these said crank rods 38 are journaled upon the cranks d0 of the crankshafts 30 and 32. ater is admitted to the tub ltlirough an inlet pipe 41 and is drained by the drain 42.

In the use and operation of the device the clothes are placed in the containers 15 by opening the mouth 18 and slidably the margins thereof back 011 the rods 17 and the necessary water is admitted to the tub through the said inlet pipe ll. The motor 22 when turned on will rotate the crankshafts 30 and 32 through the various sprockets and gears as will be understood. This rotation of the erankshafts 80 and 32 reciprocates the piston rods 86 causing the clothes receptacles 7 to be alternately expanded and contracted, the end plates 8 traveling upon the support rods 4; as hereinbefore set forth. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the cranks are at substantially the limit of their outward throw or movement and the outer end walls of the collapsible receptacles are at the limit of their outward movement so that the cranks in moving from the position illustrated in Fi 1 will force the outer end walls of the cob lapsible receptacles inwardly and simultaneously contract the separate collapsible receptacles, the inner walls of each collapsible receptacle being moved inwardly with respect to the center of the receptacle through its connection with the outer wall of the other receptacle. This expansion and contraction of the clothes receptacles alter-- nate y forces the water inward and outward through the perforations 12 in the end plates 8 so that the water will pass through the pores of the clothes to remove the dirt.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 is shown a modification of the supporting means for the clothes receptacles, all the other elements of the device remaining the same as set forth for the first embodiment. The end plates 8a are provided with upper and lower elongated slide blocks 4 extended from their sides as shown. These slide blocks have the tongues 45 spaced outwardly from the said end plates 8a and the flanges 46 spaced outwardly from the said tongues L5 as most clearly shown in Figure 8. Slots &7 are provided in the sides of the tub 160 for the reception of the intervenin portions or shanks il of the slide blocks l4: between the tongues 45 and the end plates 8a and these slots are Wider and extended longitudinally as at 4-8 upon the outer surfaces of the said tub for the reception of the tongues These slide blocks ll and slots d7 are arranged and spaced as shown in Figure 7 so that the plates 8a may slide w'thin the tub to wash the clothes as hereinbefore described. The tongues d5 in the recessed portions 4-0 of the slots 4:7 form a watertight joint so that the water cannot c the edges of the slots to aid in this PUI'POSC.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figures 10 and 11 the clothes receptacles are arranged for reciprocation in a vertical plane and the upper end plates having openings to receive the ClOtAOS. The tub 50 seated on legs 51 and has the slide rods secured vertically between the top and bet-- tom-53 and s that the upper and lower perforated end plates 55 and 56 may be slidably mounted thereon as shown. These upper and lower plates and 56 are connected by cloihes containers 57 as set forth for the first embodiment except that'these con 'ners have no mouths. The upper plates 55 save square openings 58 over which are placed the. tops 59 and releasably secured in place by a. wing bolt 60 in the pivoted clamp 61 r in any other suitable manner. A lower crank shaft 62 with power pulley 63 is journaled in the hangers 64 and has its cranks 65 connected to the lower plates 56 by crank rods (36 and piston rods 67 passing through glands (not shown) in the bottom 54 hereinbefore described. The upper crank shaft (58 is oper atively connected to the lower crankshaft 62 by sprocket chain 73 trained over sprockets upon these shafts and this said upper crankshaft 68 is journaled in standards 69 seated upon the top 58 of the tub 50. The cranks 70 upon the crankshaft 68 are connected to the upper plates 55 by crankrods 71 and piston rods 72, these said upper plates 55 each having two plungers extended from the edges of the plates so that the tops 59 may be put scape from the tub. the flanges 45 overlying in place as will be understood. The opera tion of this embodiment will be apparent.

A modification of the endnplates is shown in Figure 12, the plate 74 being slightly dished as shown and having the marginal flange 75, perforations 76 and bracing ribs 77. In Figure a fiat end plate .78 with a flange 79 has pivot lugs 80 extended from this flange between which is hinged the end panel 81 of the collapsible member 82 formed of a plurality of relatively narrow panels or sections 83 hingedly connected at 84. This collapsible construction may be used in lieu of the clothes containers hereinbefore described if so desired.

While I have herein set forth certain pre ferred embodiments of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to contract a practical device for the purposes set forth, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope 01" the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a tub, a plurality of separate collapsible clothes receptacles operatively mounted within the tub and having opposite slidable walls, means common to the slidable walls of both receptacles for slidably mounting the true and means whereby the said clothes receptacles may be simultaneously expanded and simultaneously contracted.

2. In a washer, a tub, a plurality of sepa rate collapsible clothes receptacles opera tively mounted within the tub and having opposite slidable walls, means common to the slidable walls of both receptacles for slidably mounting the same, means for simultaneously expanding and simultaneously contractin g the same, the said clothes receptacles having plurality of perforations whereby water in the tub will be drawn into and forced out of the said clothes receptacles as the same are expanded and contracted to wash the clothes.

3. In a washer, a tub, supporting rods therein, closed receptacles each having a pair of opposite walls slidably mounted upon the supporting rods, and means for simultaneously expanding the receptacles and for simultaneously contracting the receptacles, including crank shafts, means for connecting the crank shafts with the receptacles, and means for rotating the crank shafts.

l. In a washer, a tub, parallel support rods therein, perforated end pieces mounted for reciprocation upon the said support rods, flexible clothes walls connecting the adjacent end pieces to form containers, the said clothes containers having openings to receive clothes and means for reciprocating the said end pieces whereby the clothes containers therebetween will be simultaneously expanded and simultaneously contracted to wash the clothes therein.

5. In a device of the character described, a tub, support rods therein, perforated end pieces mounted for reciprocation upon the support rods, clothes containers connected between adjacent end pieces, connecting rods secured to alternate end pieces and slidably passing through intervening plates and means for reciprocating the said alternately connected end pieces in opposite directions to alternately expand and contract the said clothes containers.

6. In a device of the character described, a tub, a base therefor, a motor upon the base, crankshafts journaled upon the base at either end oi. the tub and operatively connected to the motor, support rods within the tub, perforated end pieces within the tub, rollers journaled upon the end pieces and engaging the support rods, connecting rods secured to alternate end pieces and passing loosely through intervening end pieces, fienible clothes containers having openings for the reception of the clothes, the said clothes containers connecting adjacent end pieces, piston rods secured to the outer end pieces and passing slidably through the ends of the tub and crank rods pivotally connected between the said piston rods and the said crankshafts.

7. A device of the character described including a tub, a plurality of separate collapsible clothes receptacles arranged within the tub and provided with flexible side walls and each having opposite end walls movable simultaneously toward and from each other to simul aneously contract and simultaneously expand the clothes receptacles, and operating mechanism for actuating the said end'walls.

8. A device of the character described in cluding a plurality of separate collapsible clothes receptacles provided with flexible side walls and each having slidably mounted inner and outer end walls, operating mechanism connected with the outer end walls for simultaneously moving the same toward and "from each other, and means for connecting the outer end wall of each receptacle with the inner end wall of the other receptacle whereby the inner end walls will cooperate with the outer end walls in expanding the receptacle simultaneously and contracting the receptacles simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

EUGENE E. LATTA. 

